UAV Development & Drone Programs   ATC   Aviation Safety & Regulation   Policy & Regulation   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
Reuters

FAA and Pentagon clear anti-drone high-energy laser use after New Mexico safety testing

The FAA has agreed with the Pentagon that the proper use of the counter-drone high-energy laser system is safe for national airspace, following safety testing conducted in New Mexico. The validation is intended to prevent additional airspace closures like the one affecting El Paso’s civilian airport in February.

Also: Aviation Week, DroneXL, FAA, Stars and Stripes and 9 more
2026-04-10T14:03:07.345645-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   F-16   Middle East   Military Aircraft Procurement   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
Aviation Week • Steve Trimble

Bahraini F-16 Block 70 Scores Type’s First Air-To-Air Kill

By Aviation Week: Bahraini F-16 Block 70 achieves first air-to-air kill, intercepting Iranian drones amid regional tensions and missile attacks.

2026-04-09T10:22:25.391225-07:00
Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Boeing  
FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

F-47 on track for first flight in 2028, while F/A-XX lags

By FlightGlobal: The fiscal year 2027 budget request from the White House affirms the Trump Administration’s commitment to fielding the US Air Force sixth-generation fighter, with Boeing to fly a prototype in 2028.

2026-04-10T14:24:07.465746-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Helicopter   Europe   Aviation Safety & Regulation  
FlightGlobal • Dominic Perry

Certo Aerospace praises Capstone performance in Royal Navy ASW trials

By FlightGlobal: UK uncrewed air system (UAS) developer Certo Aerospace has hailed the performance of its Capstone rotary-wing platform in trials for the Royal Navy (RN) which saw it successfully conduct a simulated anti-submarine warfare (ASW) mission.

2026-04-10T09:33:09.522870-07:00
Military Aircraft Procurement   Aviation Safety & Regulation   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Export Controls & Trade Compliance   Defense Deals   Defense Policy   Boeing  
Defense Daily • Rich Abott

U.S. Army Awards Lockheed Martin $4.76B Contract for PAC-3 MSE Production

By Defense Daily: A day after the Army on April 9 awarded Lockheed Martin a $4.76 billion contract to produce an unspecified number of Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC)-3.

Also: Reuters, Aviation Week, DVIDS / U.S. DoD, arabiandefence.com, Washington Times and 12 more
2026-04-09T14:39:16.098317-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
FlightGlobal • Craig Hoyle

French navy orders additional S-100 Camcopter ISR drones for use from frigates

By FlightGlobal: The French navy will equip some of its FREMM-class frigates with Schiebel S-100 Camcopter uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), under a new order placed via prime contractor Naval Group.

Also: aviation-defence-universe.com, defence-blog.com and defencestar.in
2026-04-10T07:48:23.956107-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Middle East   Military Aircraft Procurement   Accident   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
The Aviationist • Stefano D'Urso

U.S. Navy MQ-4 Triton Lost Over Persian Gulf After Transponder Reports Comms-Link Failure

By The Aviationist: The MQ-4 Triton was flying a patrol mission over the Persian Gulf, before signaling through the transponder a loss of the communication link with the.

Also: worldwarwings.com, defence-industry.eu, UK Defence Journal and realcleardefense.com
2026-04-09T05:07:28.650856-07:00